Affordable Luxe: Budget-friendly Boutique Hotels in Sydney

Let’s not sugar-coat it: Sydney can be a pricey place to stay overnight. So, if you’re treating yourself to a staycation or catering to out-of-towners, you needn’t worry, the Emerald City is full of affordable gems – you just need to know where to look. And that’s where we come in. We’ve scoured the city for designer digs that won’t have you pinching pennies, so you can still relax in style without blowing your entire weekend budget. Check in to one – or all – of these favourites, and we have a sneaky feeling you’ll never want to check out.

With 20 rooms and suites fitted out for maximum relaxation, Spicers Potts Point has luxury down to a tee. An urban oasis tucked away on Victoria Street, guests have the best of both worlds: you’re in the thick of the nightlife action yet far enough removed to enjoy the quiet and leafy surrounds. For the ultimate stay book their largest room, the Victoria Terrace Suite, and enjoy breakfast on your own private terrace.

Sitting between the city and the sea, Paddington is the perfect base – Mrs Banks is our pick for a stylish place to rest your head. Built in 1914, the building was once a bank. Now, it’s a hotel that doubles as an interior designer’s dream. It hints at its heritage, with soaring metal ceilings, mid-century furnishings and king-size beds. WiFi is free, as is breakfast.

The Kirketon is a short stroll from the city’s best sights, and in the heart of Sydney’s nightlife district. Its chic design mirrors that mood: it’s all dim lighting, charcoal walls, red carpets and plush velvet armchairs. The rooms are cosy; if you’re long-limbed or travelling with tons of luggage, splash out on the Executive Room. For the ultimate date night, push past the black curtains and go to Darlinghurst’s award-winning speakeasy, Eau De Vie.

229 Darlinghurst Road, Sydney

Rooms from $119 per night

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Location, location! Perched at the crossroads of Woollahra, Paddington and Centennial Park, The Hughenden is as practical as it is picturesque. Inside a beautifully restored Victorian home, the boutique hotel has 32 suites and rooms – and six of them are pet-friendly. 14 Queen is open for all-day dining, and you can curl up with a book in the Victorian Lounge, sip on a tipple in the speakeasy, or soak up the sun on the outdoor terrace.

Welcome to Studio 54: the Surry Hills edition. In a prime position on Foveaux Street, these digs take design cues from the disco days. Walk into the lobby and you’ll be greeted with party music, moody lighting, brass furnishings, and zebra-striped wallpaper. The elevator – which is decorated with a disco ball – will whizz you to your colourful, modern room. While there are no restaurants on-site, Paramount Coffee Project and Spice I Am are close by.

Sitting pretty on the hill in Millers Point, Hotel Palisade – in all its towering five-story glory – is the place to book for room with a view. With only eight rooms in total, this iconic portside hotel comes with the boutique stamp of approval: stylish nautical interiors, sweeping harbour views and a pleasingly affordable price tag. Whilst you’re there, be sure to head up to Henry Dean’s glamorous cocktail bar for share plates, creative cocktail mixes and breathtaking panoramic views overlooking the city.

Newtown is one of Sydney’s hippest hubs, and The Urban reflects that. With industrial-inspired rooms, plenty of polished concrete, and graffiti-coloured columns, this has Inner West written all over it. The hotel holds regular wine and beer tastings in its lush atrium – we can ‘t think of a better place to will away a Saturday afternoon. Standard rooms aside, you can check in (and out of) a suite, kitchenette or balcony room 24/7 – The Urban never sleeps.

Old meets new in the most beautiful way at this glitzy Chippendale hotel. Stretching across two heritage-listed buildings, The Old Clare boasts 62 luxe rooms, four suites, three restaurants, a gym, and a sleek cocktail bar that comes dripping in old-school Art Deco glamour. Hop in the lift and go all the way up for the Insta-famous rooftop pool, on-point cocktail list and panoramic views over Sydney.

Designed for social media-savvy travellers, 1888 is the world’s first ‘Instagram hotel.’And trust us when we say it’s photogenic. Tucked inside a 19th century warehouse in Pyrmont, there’s photo opp at every turn thanks to its wooden beams, exposed brick walls and five-storey atrium. The rooms are just as cool with street art-inspired décor, rain showers, 40-inch Smart TVs and iPads.